Is inland living South Africa’s best-kept secret?
Inland living is gaining traction as rising coastal prices push buyers toward Gauteng, where affordability, space and convenience make it SA’s best-kept property secret.
With property prices rising in the coastal regions of the country, and as many South Africans are reconsidering their lifestyle priorities, questions are coming to light as to whether inland living might be the next move. While coastal properties have often been seen as the crown of real estate in the South Africa, current market behaviour suggests that the inland regions might be the country’s best-kept secret.
According to the Q3 REMAX Housing Report for 2025, homebuyers showed the strongest interest in the following Top 5 Most Searched Suburbs:
1. Parklands, Western Cape (coastal)
2. Morningside, Gauteng
3. Bryanstonn, Gauteng
4. Faerie Glen, Gauteng
5. Protea Glen, Gauteng
Most notably, four out of the five most searched areas are located within the Gauteng Province, highlighting a growing interest towards moving to inland regions. These trends may suggest that consumers are prioritising affordability, space, and convenience, qualities that are often associated with inland areas.
“Coastal areas have often come with premium price tags as a result of high demand, tourism appeal, and limited land availability,” says Adrian Goslett, CEO and regional director of REMAX Southern Africa. “In contrast, many properties in the inland regions of the country offer significantly more space at more affordable price points.”
Recent data from the Q3 REMAX Housing Report for 2025 showed that the Western Cape, one of the country’s key coastal regions, recorded an average housing price of R3,119,517 for the REMAX network. In comparison, Gauteng’s average housing price was R1,471,423. While both regions are driven by accessibility to major economic hubs, Gauteng provides this accessibility at a significantly lower cost.
“While South Africa’s coastline will always have strong appeal, our data shows that practical considerations are currently shaping consumer behaviour. The fact that only one coastal area appeared in the REMAX network’s Top 5 Most Searched Suburbs reinforces the belief that buyers are becoming more intentional and financially cautious in their property searches,” explains Goslett.
As the housing market continues to evolve, more South Africans may soon see that inland living is not just a practical option, but perhaps one of the country’s best kept real estate secrets. To find out what opportunities exist in the inland areas, Goslett recommends that buyers reach out to their local agents for assistance.
Issued by Kesia Abrahams
